What term describes air in the pleural space?

What term describes air in the pleural space?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Hemothorax
• C. Pneumoperitoneum
• D. Pyothorax

Answer: (A)

Air in the pleural space is called a pneumothorax. The pleural space normally contains only a small amount of lubricating fluid between the lung surface and the chest wall; when air enters this space, it separates the pleural layers and allows the lung to recoil inward, often causing partial or complete collapse of the lung. This can occur spontaneously, from trauma, or as a result of medical procedures. The other terms describe different substances or locations: a hemothorax is blood in the pleural space, a pyothorax (empyema) is pus in the pleural space, and pneumoperitoneum is air in the abdominal cavity, not the chest.

Air in the pleural space is called a pneumothorax. The pleural space normally contains only a small amount of lubricating fluid between the lung surface and the chest wall; when air enters this space, it separates the pleural layers and allows the lung to recoil inward, often causing partial or complete collapse of the lung. This can occur spontaneously, from trauma, or as a result of medical procedures.

The other terms describe different substances or locations: a hemothorax is blood in the pleural space, a pyothorax (empyema) is pus in the pleural space, and pneumoperitoneum is air in the abdominal cavity, not the chest.